LIVERPOOL'S Derry Mathews reflected this week on his stunning debut in the professional arena.

SECONDS OUT: The 'Golden Boy' took little time to defeat Sergei Tasimov >

LIVERPOOL'S Derry Mathews reflected this week on his stunning debut in the professional arena.

The Everton bantanmweight took his bow in the paid ranks on Saturday night at Preston's Guild Hall and wasted no time in sending out a message to his new peers.

Continuing in the vein of form which saw him stroll to last year's Senior ABA National title, it took Mathews just 1m 40secs to dispose of experienced Estonian Sergei Tasimov.

Having troubled current British bantam champion, Nicky Booth before a third round stoppage in his previous bout last November, Tasimov was good measure to see how far Mathews has to go. But on Saturday's evidence, which saw the 'Golden Boy' switching his shots from torso to head before finshing his opponent with a devastating body combination, the 19-year-old fighter is already some way along the road to success.

"I was a bit nervous before I went out," said Mathews.

"It reminded me of the ABA final last year so I knew to just compose myself and take my time into the ring.

"I hit him with some good combinations to the body and then caught him with a good one-two to the head which saw him raise his hands. Once the hands went up he left himself exposed and that was all the invitaion I needed to finish him with a solid right to the body."

Such was the impact of Mathews' quickfire finish that Tasimov, who lasted longer before succumbing to Liverpool's two-weight world champion Peter Culshaw last April, appeared to be out cold for around 10 minutes before being assisted to his corner.

It may be too early to talk of a match-up with the likes of Booth, but Mathews is looking to continue his professional initiation some time next month and is hoping for a little more time inside the ropes: "I'd planned to go the full four rounds on Saturday but if they go down like that I'm more than happy," he said.

"I've just got to take each fight as it comes now but would think that in 12 months time I will be ready to step in the ring with anyone out there at this weight."

Since his link up with Steven Vaughan's promotion company last October, Mathews has been trained by the Chester City chairman's father, George of whom the talented boxer pays tribute: "George has been in the pro game for so long that he was able to teach me everything he could in a short space of time to prepare me for Saturday's fight.

"George had told me in the gym to plant my feet better and produce more body-shots which is exactly how I finsihed Tasimov off."

For some, the former Salisbury fighter's progress will come as no surprise, but it is testament to his ability and future potential that Sports Network offered him a five-fight deal shortly after turning pro.

However, it was a cruel twist of fate which persuaded the teenager to hand in his amateur vest sooner than he'd anticipated. Following the success of his first year in the Senior ABA's, most people had Mathews as a certainty to represent his country in Manchester's Commonwealth Games last summer. However, the England selectors had other ideas and chose the Dingle-based, Golden Gloves boxer, Mark Moran instead.

Although Moran did his city and country proud en route to his bronze medal, Mathews feels, that spurred by his recent success, he may have gone further and possibly emulated the gold he won at the 2001 Junior Olympics: "I had no ambitions of turning pro but wasn't too happy with the England set-up and selection process," he said.

"There are not too many decent bantams about and although I'd just won the ABA's I still got overlooked for the Commonwealth Games which hurt.

"Because of my success at the ABA's I felt confident of beating anyone at amateur level but the selectors thought otherwise and I decided to choose a different route."

At the start of what promises to be a glittering career, all that is history now for Mathews and, indeed, England's loss is the professional sport's gain.